The Shoes You Won't Regret Investing In

It's true that shoes hold a similar place in the sartorial heart as handbags.

They fit you no matter what, they can make a boring outfit amazing, and they are often masterpieces in creativity and craftsmanship.

So, if you want to invest your hard-earned, hard-saved money in a pair that you won't regret come next season, you've come to the right place...

Gucci Jordaan loafers

Gucci Jordaan loafers

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You'll likely be familiar with Gucci's iconic Horsebit loafer.

As the story goes, while working at London hotel The Savoy just after WW1, a young Guccio Gucci (the brand's eponymous founder) noticed how significant equestrian symbols were to the English aristocracy. Thus, when he started the Gucci brand in 1921 he made sure the iconography became intertwined with its identity.

It was his son, Aldo, who introduced the Horsebit loafer in 1953. The sumptuous leather slip-on quickly became synonymous with the jet set and Hollywood stars alike.

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Though already a true classic, Alessandro Michele's arrival at the helm of Gucci in January 2015 signalled a renaissance for the style. Reworked with a slimmer shape to create the Jordaan style (pictured above), the horsebit-adorned loafer is once again a must-have.

Whether you go for the classic loafer or the ever-popular backless version, it's a buy you will never regret.

Chanel two-tone slingbacks

First created by Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel in 1957, there's more to Chanel's two-tone slingbacks than meets the eye; the nude upper lengthens the leg, while the black toe shortens the foot. Genius.

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Current Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld reintroduced them Autumn/Winter 2015, and they soon became a must-have.

You'll need to head to a Chanel store to get hold of a pair - and there's no guarantee Chanel will continue to make them for years to come (if that's not a good enough excuse to go and buy them now, we don't know what is...).

If you can't find a pair for love nor money, Chanel's two-tone flat ballet pumps are just as iconic and the colour-way has the exact same effect, even without a heel.

Christian Louboutin Pigalle pumps

Named after a seedy area in Paris - Quartier Pigalle, home to the Moulin Rouge and other such establishments - the Pigalle is by far Christian Louboutin's most iconic red-soled shoe.

With it's pointed toe and pencil-straight 120mm heel, the shoe is loved for it's posture-correcting and leg-lengthening abilities. Kate Moss has countless pairs, and you'll rarely see her on the red carpet wearing any other shoe.

Black patent is the signature fabrication but due to their popularity they are available in a plethora of fabrics and treatments.

Chloé Susanna boots

Chloe Susanna boots

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Launched as part of the Pre-Fall 2008 collection, French fashion house Chloé' created an icon with the Susanna.

The studded ankle boots, featuring three buckles and a subtle floral motif, captured the zeitgeist with their rock and roll vibe and were soon seen constantly on the feet of Sienna Miller and Kate Bosworth. They swiftly sold out everywhere.

Eight years on and they still sell like proverbial hot cakes, even though their price tag hovers around the £850 mark, depending on whether you opt for buttery soft calf skin, suede or whatever other fabrication you fancy (velvet is also an option this season).

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Miller and Bosworth are still spotted in theirs today, as are countless other stylish women who consider them their failsafe .

Balenciaga Ceinture boots

Balenciaga Centurion boots

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If you're partial to the odd bit of street style browsing, you'll no doubt have seen Balenciaga's clodhopping Ceinture boots on the feet of many a show-goer.

Designed by the Parisian fashion house's then-Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquière in 2010 as part of the Spring/Summer 2011 collection, these decidedly non-summery boots were a slow burn but are now a sure-fire icon.

With the direct translation of 'ceinture' being 'belt', the boots are punctuated by two belt-like chunky buckles across the top of the foot and around the ankle. Add those features to the signature cut-outs at the ankle and you have the recipe for punk-inspired footwear success.

Prices at £795, they sell out whenever they come in stock at the likes of Net-A-Porter and MatchesFashion, so you'd better be on the ball if you're after a pair.

Manolo Blahnik Hangisi pumps

Manolo Blahnik Hangisi pumps

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When Carrie Bradshaw chose Manolo Blahnik's jewel blue Hangisi pumps as her 'something blue' when she (finally) married Big in the first Sex And The City film, she unwittingly (or perhaps not) bestowed icon status upon the shoe.

Olivia Palermo even decided to wear them on her 2014 wedding day.

Satin-covered with a 105mm heel, the Hangisi was inspired Napoleon I, Josephine and Pauline Bonaparte. The signature Swarovski-embellished buckle on the toe, meanwhile, was inspired by a vintage piece found by Blahnik, a lover of accessories, in Italy.

They can be yours for £745, and are available in a rainbow of beautiful hues.

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